Bjorn hasn't done **** this year. I know he has like 5-6 sacks but 4 of them came in one game against a FCS team.I guess we could get Wener in the 2nd round. If we get a top 3-5 pick, I say we trade back and get some picks as long as we get Star,Montgomery,Warmack, Reid or Werner if he starts playing better.

The Tackles I don't agree as much with. I've rewatched every game this year from the overhead camera angle, and you get great views on the OL and DL. I would agree that they're not playing at an All-Pro level, but they've still been rocks. A few plays here and there, sure, but some of that is on the QB holding the ball too long or not stepping up into the pocket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pit Bull #53

I think they've just set such a high standard, and we're just seeing complete horseshit on offense out there week after week, that it's hard to take any positives away from what's being done.

Lets not forget that we have a newbie in Velasco making the line calls too. We all hate Amano, but at least he could recognize blitzes and slide the protection calls to counter them. Velasco failed to do that on the Jared Allen sack. Greenway lined up outside of Allen, and Roos took him. It was then Hutchinson's job to get Allen. And then Velasco should have gotten the DT. Instead Hutchinson took the DT, whether because he had to, his responsibility hadn't changed, or just flatout due to confusion. Velasco has to recognize the blitz and get everyone sorted. This wasn't a delayed DB blitz like when Jake got hurt. Greenway practically had his hand in the dirt.

If things continue how they have been, I wonder what changes will be made? Will Tommie Campbell or Coty see time? Will Martin get some time at S (can he even come back this year?). Will someone replace Harris at RG? Will we replace coaches during the season :O

I'd like to see Tommie Campbell get more time. Either in nickel packages or maybe even at FS.

Campbell as FS has gone through my mind too. Try Coty as 3rd CB. The sooner the better, we need to see how our future looks. We don't need to not play these guys like Cary Williams and then see them go off elsewhere and show their talent.

One play early stuck out to me, about 7:45 in the 1st, on 3rd down Leroy Harris gets beat across his face, but actually recovers enough to push the guy out of the play, but Hasselbeck sees the guy initially flash in front of him and gets rid of the ball too quick to Wright on a crosser who gets crushed by Harrison Smith. 1 more second in the pocket and he could have seen Cook 20-30 yds downfield with a clear step or two on his man. Instead we punt.

Jurrell Casey is far and away our best defensive lineman.

Sen'Derrick Marks appears to be the quickest lineman out of his stance.

Derrick Morgan tries to spin too much, and usually ends up on the ground or way off balance.

McCarthy does a good job avoiding a blocker and almost makes the play on Harvin's TD run, but a pathetic tackle attempt by both Griffin and Mouton leads to a touchdown.

Velasco completely whiffs on a block and forces CJ away from the play design, straight into a slot corner blitz.

It almost seems cliche at this point to call out struggles of the interior line, but man.. Harris, Velasco, and Hutch are taking turns getting abused. Doesn't matter if its run or pass. The play before we ran the fake punt, Hutch ruined the play by getting completely smoked. Cook and a LB collided and fell downfield...looked like he would've been able to come open, but Hass didn't have time to find him anyway.

The play CJ fumbled on was terrible by him. Not only did he fumble, but he missed a clear lane despite us blocking it well that would have picked up at least 5-7yds. Hard to tell if that's where the play was designed to go or not, but he jump cut in the backfield instead of running straight where the handoff was taking him, and Velasco's man disengaged across his face and disrupted the play a bit.

2nd Quarter

Vikings running alot of plays out of singleback 2TE formations. We are playing the run well out of this formation, but they are hitting some pass plays, nothing major though.

Zach Brown's major problem so far appears to be that he gets sucked in, and takes too many false steps, because of play fakes. You would hope this will be corrected with experience.

McCarthy reacts very quickly to what's in front of him in pass coverage.

Hutch false start. Like I said, they're just taking turns ******* up.

Hasselbeck's first INT is terrible. Line gives him time, but he doesn't see Cook standing in the middle of the field with no one within 10 yds of him. It was 3rd and 19, so it wouldn't have picked up the first, but the throw he attempted wasn't going to even come close either. He had tons of time as well, 2 of the Vikings' DL ended up on the ground.

Derrick Morgan FINALLY gets a good pass rush, and what do you know, it results in a broken play! He didn't get the sack, but he got Loadholt off balance and forced Ponder to scramble. First time we've breathed on him in the pocket today. Results in a field goal, offense directly to blame thanks to the Hass INT.

3rd and 8. Hass had Damian Williams (I think) to his right wide open for the 1st, but a chip block on Brian Robison actually pushes him with his own momentum into kind of an inadvertent stunt and he slips past Leroy Harris (not really his fault here) and comes into Hasselbecks face and forces him to the other side of the field for a short gain.

Long run by Peterson - we only have 6 in the box. 5 OL take our 4 DL and Ayers. Fullback gets McCarthy. No one left to make the tackle. Klug plays it horribly and takes himself out of the play... Ayers took a false step backwards at the snap, may have been in a better position otherwise. We were in nickel, they were in the I with 1TE 2WR. We were playing pass all the way and they gashed us.

Derrick Morgan again with a terrible spin move, ends up on the ground, loses contain and Ponder scrambles for a 1st. Brown played it pretty bad as well. Good coverage downfield.

Babs jumps a route perfectly but can't catch the INT. Results in a FG.

Backed up at our 17 with under 2 minutes. Checkdown to Ringer is dropped, then they run a weird swing pass to him for no gain. On the backside of that play appears to be a WR screen of some sort that would have picked up alot of yard, but they never looked that direction so I have to assume that was designed for the RB.

Then on 3rd down the Vikings blitz with 6 rushers. The receivers are all running vertical and there is no hot. Hasselbeck curls into the fetal position as Hutch and Ringer both pick up the same rusher and let Jared Allen come nearly untouched for a sack.

We punt, they get it at nearly midfield. Rush 3, drop 8, they hit a quick pass for a short gain. Rush 3, drop 8 again... no one even breathes on Ponder, he has time to pump McCourty who bites on the short route and throws over top of him. Griffin makes the hit and breaks up the pass but is flagged for a personal foul. Quick screen to Harvin next play picks up a chunk. Our linebackers are not good with playfakes at all.

Slip screen to Gerhart is defended well. Next play Mouton drops an easy pick. Next play RoJo gets the pick on the tip drill.

HALFTIME

I'll probably watch the 2nd half tomorrow. Without the idiotic Hasselbeck INT, and if Babineaux catches an easy INT himself, it would have only been 7-0 at halftime. Offense was putrid. Pass rush is completely non-existant. Almost every pass play for the Vikings, other than their 2 min drill, was playaction.

On a scale from Mike Martin's calves to Mike Martin's gun show, how awesome is Mike Martin? I'll hang up and listen.

Mike Martin's muscly pinky?

Looks like that dude will be a playa fo sho. As much as he was praised as a stout nose tackle, he's shown he can move very well and get in the opponents backfield. I hope we have a good future with him and Casey.